Crossing In A Heartbeat

Chapter 5

"Thank you, Crystilla. Does everyone travel by dragon?"

"No. Many cannot afford us."

"Do you eat a lot?"

"Hum. I don't think so. But if you don't need to fly through the mountains, there is no reason to have one."

Kara sat on the ground by her. "I think it's probably the housing. You need a large space and it has to be heated."

"Hum, yes. What is your world like?"

"Smog, cement, and tall buildings. No dragons. Do you have big cities?"

"Yes. We don't have smog. I'm not sure what you mean by cement. There are lots of buildings. Easier to see than explain."

Kara nodded, feeling lost. "What do I do here?"

"I shouldn't answer that question."

"Why?"

"Because."

Kara glanced at Crystilla, but the dragon was not forthcoming with any more information.

"You don't mind if I sit here, do you?"

"No. You can lean against me if you like."

Kara felt hesitant at first, but when she did lean against Crystilla, she found her warm. Even the floor felt warm and she wondered if there was in-floor heating. For the moment, she felt comfortable, but a nagging doubt about what was real made her think that at any moment she would wake to find herself in a hospital or at her cubicle. But when she did wake, she found herself nestled between Crystilla's legs.

"Is she going to sleep all day?"

The giant doors were open to emit four dragons and their riders. It was actually the draft that woke her.

"She's awake."

"I'm awake. Sorry." Kara rose to her feet.

Dirgen stood a short distance away. "We'll be traveling at dusk, but... we thought you shouldn't miss the midday meal."

"Thank you." She joined him at the table.

The meal consisted of sliced meats, bread, and kolack.

"Do you drink this all day?"

"You can switch to water if you want to sleep tonight. Most need it to stay awake."

She nodded, thinking the group of men eating with them weren't the same as the ones at breakfast. None lingered once they finished. She watched them go through a door and she wondered if that went to sleeping quarters.

After eating her fill, she rose, deciding to try the facility that Crystilla had pointed out. She didn't say anything, hoping she didn't need to seek permission to go to the bathroom.

Stepping through the door, she found three individual stalls. The toilets looked like pit toilets, but there was no pit. It looked like just a bowl. She peed, glad there were sheets of rough looking paper. One did the job. Then she looked at how to flush.

"I'm a freaking engineer. I can figure this out." She felt like she was in a computer game and this was a puzzle to work out.

She looked at every nob and handle. Most, she discovered, were for hanging things from.

"I think I got this."

She grabbed a handle. It turned like she was reeling in a winch. After so many turns, there was a click, and water flowed through the bowl, cleaning it out. A basin outside of the stalls was easier to work, and she washed her hands. However, the soap was soft goo in a jar that she had to scoop out with a spoon. There wasn't a towel. She shook her hands dry.